Wagon hay-rack.



P. JESS.

WAGON HAY RAGK. APPLICATION FILED mm. 12, 1911.

Patnted June 4, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANDCIRAPII 60., WASHINUTQN, D. c.

Mrs sra'rns PATE our PETER JESS, OF LYONS, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES A. EVANS, JR.,

OF CLINTON, IOWA.

WAGON HAY-RACK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER Jnss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lyons, in the county of Clinton and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wagon Hay-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to attachments for wagon hay racks, and more especially to the ladders with which such racks are ordinarily equipped.

It comprehends primarily an improved latch for retaining the ladder in vertical position, both the latch and the ladder being pivotally mounted so as to permit the ladder to be swung into horizontal position after the disengagement of the latch therefrom.

A structural embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, whereof Figure 1 is a perspective view of said invention complete; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the latch per 86.

In said drawing, A indicates, in a general manner, a hay rack of the usual construction, B the ladder associated with said rack, and C the latch. The ladder, in the present instance, is hinged to the forward end of the rack, preferably to the front stringer 1, the stringer being provided with a pair of apertured lugs 2 which support the projecting ends of the bolt 3 that connects the lower ends of the ladder rails 4 and 5. The aforesaid lugs 2 extend laterally from the stringer toward the rear end of the rack, and the pivotal mounting of the ladder upon the bolt 3, which is carried by said lugs, enables said ladder to be moved either into a horizontal position, (in which instance, it will rest upon the floor of the rack), or a vertical position, the ladder, in the latter position, resting against and extending across the stringer, as shown in Fig. 1.

The metal latch C is provided for the purpose of retaining the ladder in its vertical position, as has already been stated. It is likewise attached to the stringer and it comprises, preferably, a flat body portion 6 formed at its front and rear ends with pairs of depending spaced ears 7 and 8, the distance between each pair of ears being slightly greater than the width of the stringer. The rear ears 8 are apertured, as shown in Fig. 2, for the reception of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 12, 1911.

Patented June 4, 1912. Serial No. 632,619.

ends of the hinge or pivot bolt 9 that is passed therethrough and through the stringer, the body portion of the latch being adapted to rest squarely upon the upper face of the stringer, when said latch is in one position, while its ears extend across the side faces of said stringer. At its front end the latch is provided with a retaining member adapted to engage the ladder, this memher being substantially hook-shaped in the construction illustrated, and consisting of a lateral arm 10 having a nose or bill 11 projecting therefrom and designed to extend directly across the rear face of the adjacent ladder rail 4, the arm 10 being, at the same time, in contact, or approximately so, with the adjacent side face of that rail. When the ladder and the latch are thus engaged, it will be apparent that the second-named part will be held in place by its pairs of ears 7 and 8, which straddle the stringer, as

shown in full lines in Fig. 1, whilethe first-.

named part will be held between said stringer and the bill 11 and will, therefore, be supported in upright position. When the rack is empty, and it is desired to swing the ladder into horizontal position, it is necessary merely to raise the latch into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, whereupon the ladder may be lowered. The latch itself may then be returned to its original horizontal position upon the upper face of the stringer, being readily moved from one position to the other by means of the laterally-projecting arm portion 10 of its retaining hook.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination, with a hay rack, in cluding an end stringer, of a ladder pivoted to said stringer, and a movable retaining member carried by said stringer and comprising a fiat body portion adapted to rest squarely upon the top face of the stringer and a terminal hook formed upon said body and adapted for engagement with said ladder when the same is in one position.

2. The combination, with a hay rack, including a stringer, of a ladder pivoted to said stringer, and a latch carried by said stringer for retaining said ladder in one position, said latch comprising a body portion provided at opposite ends with depending pairs of spaced ears adapted to straddle the stringer, and at one end with a hook adapted to engage said ladder.

3. A latch of the type specified oompris- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ing a body portion adapted for pivotal conmy hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witnection at one end to a stringer and pronesses.

vided at its other end With a pair of spaced PETER JESS. ears adapted to straddle the stringer, and a Witnesses: retaining hook on one end of said body por- M. W. BARRY,

tion. M. J. POWERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, I). G. 

